Nuclear Blair

AEA Technology was the company that evolved from the privatisation of the Atomic Energy Commission. It is therefore no surprise that having been chosen by New Labour to organise the public consultation on the future of energy production in the UK, it came out in favour of new nuclear power stations.

In order to achieve this conclusion it deliberately distorted or ignored the vast bulk of the submissions. New nuclear power plants were the least preferred option by those who submitted evidence. The most glaring omission was the failure to deal with the proposals to generate and conserve energy locally. It was beyond the authors' ability to understand anything other than big energy and big distribution networks.

The report was also published before the government's -- many times delayed -- report on what to do with existing nuclear waste. The latest press leaks seem to indicate that the plan is to bury the waste and bribe the people around the site. The report says that new nuclear power stations could be designed to produce less radioactive waste. What it omits to say is that this will be many times more toxic.

In about 400 BC an important local chieftain from Scotland was buried with his chariot at Ferrybridge in Yorkshire. 500 years later in AD 100 thousands from all over Britain gathered at his grave in a huge ceremony that involved the slaughtering of over 200 cattle. We have no idea what the person was called and why they were there. To preserve the safety of future generations from the risks of nuclear waste we have to develop a collective memory that will last tens of thousands of years.

The 6th August edition of the Observer reported that the hot weather in Europe had resulted in a number of nuclear reactors being closed down. There has also been a 600% rise in uranium prices over the last five years, making nuclear power very expensive. It is also the case that despite intensive lobbying from the UK nuclear power industry, it will lose out to US firms if the reactors are built. This is because UK firms are not allowed to build reactors in the US and therefore will not benefit from any economies of scale.

The timescale for the construction of nuclear reactors is such that they will be built far too late to affect the rapid increase in global warming. However, they will be in time to generate plutonium for Blair's new generation of nuclear bombs.

Paying the price

Anni Rainbow, a key founder of CAAB, has been tragically affected by the illegal invasion of Iraq. Her son Matt Cornish, a UK soldier, has been killed by shrapnel in Basra. Our thoughts and condolences are with Anni at this time. There is a tribute at the CAAB web site.

Snippets

This has been a busy few weeks.

• The South Yorkshire Festival at the wonderful Wortley Hall passed off well, although attendance was slightly down because of World Cup. Celia and Bron did brilliantly at the Alliance for Green Socialism stall.
• The setting for the Red Pepper Garden Party was not quite as grand but was still very beautiful. The bash was graced by the presence of Jon Trickett, the new chair of the Compass Group of MPs, and the legendary screenwriter Trevor Griffiths. Garth and Wendy did good business at the Pepper stall to the music of the Leeds band Bassa Bassa.
• Unity Day at Woodhouse Moor in Leeds also saw the AGS stall doing well. Over 1000 postcards based on a design from Palestine and printed by Mike Davies were distributed. They attacked the war crimes in Lebanon. At the end of the day AGS founder-member Brian Jackson was presented with a certificate by the Unity Day organisers for his services to the local community. Congratulations Brian!
• The news columns have already reported on the success of the Leeds AGS Garden Party and of the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) 4th July celebrations at Menwith Hill. The American folk singer Tom Nielsen certainly raised everyone's spirits and I have been told he has an article in the next edition of Green Socialism.
• The Radical History walk through Blackheath down to the Thames was a great success despite some confusion over the date. Terry kept a dozen walkers entertained with a stream of anecdotes and insights. Some confusion has also crept in over Shaun's Radical History walk round Leeds. I can confirm it will be taking place on Sunday 3rd September at 2pm. It starts from in front of the Environmental Agency's office in Park Square, central Leeds.
• Leeds joined many other cities in the UK protesting against Blair's inability to call for an immediate cease-fire in Palestine and the Lebanon. Over 800 people marched. Leeds also sent two coaches to the national demonstration in London.
• Gipton in Leeds had a serious and strong meeting held outside the Fearnville Sports Centre protesting against its proposed closure. In an informed discussion involving all 20 people present it was agreed to continue to campaign, both to keep the centre open and to preserve the historically and ecologically rich green areas around it.
• And finally -- congratulations to Geraldine, daughter to our web mistress, on her wedding. Her guests (and Gez, pictured!) had such amazing tattoos and everyone really enjoyed themselves.